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Utah Great Pro Footballer Merlin Olsen Dies of Cancer at 69

On March 11, 2010, in Celebrity, by admin

Pro Football Hall of Famer and former television actor Merlin Olsen has died. He was 69.

Utah State, Olsen’s alma mater, said he died outside of Los Angeles early Thursday after battling cancer. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer of the lung lining, last year.

“This was the voice of a man who not only became one of our country’s most decorated athletes, but also one of the most accomplished and respected people ever to hail from the state of Utah,” said Stan Albrecht, president of Utah State.

Olsen was an All-American at Utah State and a first-round draft pick of the Los Angles Rams in 1962.

The burley giant from northern Utah joined Deacon Jones, Lamar Lundy and Rosey Grier on the Rams’ storied “Fearsome Foursome” defensive line known for either stopping or knocking backward whatever offenses it faced. The Rams set an NFL record for the fewest yards allowed during a 14-game season in 1968.

Olsen was rookie of the year for the Rams in 1962 and is still the Rams’ all-time leader in career tackles with 915. He was named to 14 consecutive Pro Bowls, a string that started his rookie year.

Olsen was also an established television actor with a role on “Little House on the Prairie,” then starring in his own series, “Father Murphy,” from 1981 to 1983 and the short-lived “Aaron’s Way” in 1988.

Olsen was a consensus All-American at Utah State and won the 1961 Outland Trophy as the nation’s best interior lineman. The Rams drafted Olsen third overall in 1962 and he spent the next 15 years with the team before retiring in 1976.

Utah State honored Olsen in December by naming the football field at Romney Stadium “Merlin Olsen Field.” Because of his illness, Olsen’s alma mater didn’t want to wait until football season and made the announcement during halftime of a basketball game.

Olsen was well enough to attend, but did not speak at the event. He stood and smiled as he waved to fans during a standing ovation and chants of “Merlin Olsen!” and “Aggie Legend!”

Utah State is also planning a statue of Olsen at the southeast corner of the stadium.

The Rams also honored Olsen during a game Dec. 20, with a video tribute narrated by Dick Enberg, Olsen’s longtime broadcast partner. Olsen did not attend because of his health. His name was already part of the Ring of Fame inside the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis along with other franchise standouts.

He was voted NFC defensive lineman of the year in 1973 and the NFL MVP in 1974, and was voted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982.

Thanks Breitbart.

California Judicial Commission Admonished Judge For Making Attorney Pay in Coupons

On February 3, 2010, in Life/Culture, Political, by admin

A California judicial commission has admonished a retired judge for ordering that an attorney who settled a class-action lawsuit be paid in $10 coupons for women’s apparel. The lawsuit accused Windsor Fashions Inc. of invading customers’ privacy by requesting personal information during credit card transactions.

As part of the January 2009 settlement, the company issued coupons to the plaintiffs, and Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Brett Klein ordered that the attorney fee of $125,000 be paid similarly.

The Commission on Judicial Performance, which disciplines state judges, said Tuesday that Klein was biased and abusive. It also said he improperly communicated with the press by e-mailing his decision to a small newspaper.

Klein later rescinded his order to pay the attorney with coupons. He retired in November.

Thanks My Way.

Tagged with: adminished • Attorney • California • commission • credit card • judicial • Los Angeles • newspaper • retired judge • windsor fashions

Tila Tequila’s Odd Farewell to late Heiress Casey Johnson

On January 11, 2010, in Celebrity, by admin

God, this woman is gross! Tila Tequila bids bizarre video farewell to heiress ‘wifey’ Casey Johnson

The “wifey” of doomed heiress Casey Johnson released a farewell video Thursday, telling her “I will always love you.”

“I miss you so much and that’s all that matters,” an emotional but dry-eyed Tila Tequila said.

“There’s so much chaos going on right now without you here. I just wish you were here because there’s so much chaos. None of that really matters to me because all I know is that your love is right here with me always.”

The reality TV star, sitting with her back to a piano, wrapped up her brief eulogy by stating, “I miss you and you’ll always be in my heart and I will always love you.”

Tequila did not elaborate on the “chaos.”

But she released the video – which appeared on RadarOnline.com – a day after Johnson’s celebrity gal pals retrieved her dogs from Tequila’s home in Los Angeles.

After reportedly giving Bijou Phillips and Nicky Hilton the green light to come get the pooches, Zoe and Elvis, Tequila refused to answer the door when they knocked – then called the cops.

It was only after the police, followed by herds of reporters, arrived that Tequila emerged and allowed Hilton and Phillips to take the dogs and Johnson’s effects.

“She’s milking this for all the attention she can get,” a Johnson family insider said Thursday.

Johnson is the daughter of Jets owner Woody Johnson. A 30-year-old heiress to the Johnson & Johnson fortune with a bad case of diabetes and a history of substance abuse, she was found dead by a maid at a Los Angeles home on Monday.

Investigators still haven’t pinned down what killed her but said there was no evidence of trauma – and that she may have been there for days. Tequila confirmed the death of “my Wifey Casey Johnson” on Twitter.

Johnson and the 28-year-old attention hog had been an item for about a month. Johnson outraged her parents by giving Tequila a 17-carat engagement ring in an online video – while both were clad in their bras and panties.

Since the heiress’ death, the Johnson family has shunned Tequila, and Johnson’s gal pals did not invite her to a hastily arranged memorial at Nicky Hilton’s house Tuesday night.

Tequila on Thursday also clarified – once again, on Twitter – that she wasn’t with her fiance on New Years Eve because she was “out of town” visiting her brother.

Last month, Tequila announced via a Tweet that she was “going to become a SURROGATE MOTHER for my brother and his Wife!!…That is my xmas present to them.”

Casey Johnson’s body is expected to be flown back east this week for burial after a private funeral limited to immediate family.

A family spokesman declined to give any further details.

Thanks Daily News

Tagged with: bijou phillips • casey johson • chaos • cops • Daily News • God • i will always love you • Los Angeles • nicky hilton • raderonline • tequila • wifey

Gays Have Arrived! Appearing on the “Newlywed Game Show”

On September 16, 2009, in Celebrity, TV/Reality, by admin

The Newlywed Game” is bringing on its first gay couple.

It’s a celebrity duo for the long-running game show, now on the GSN cable network. George Takei, who played Mr. Sulu on “Star Trek,” will appear with his partner, Brad Altman. They just celebrated their first anniversary after being married in Los Angeles.

Takei and Altman have been together for 22 years, so they’re nothing like the giggly young couples who appeared on the first version of the show.

The new edition of “The Newlywed Game” began airing on GSN a year ago and has been a ratings success. Singer Carnie Wilson has replaced Bob Eubanks as host.

Tagged with: carnie wilson • Gay • george takei • gsn • Los Angeles • Newlywed game • star trek

Some Positive Gain in the California Wild Fires?

On September 1, 2009, in Life/Culture, by admin

Some promising news on the fires that rage in California. Firefighters set backfires and removed brush with bulldozers across a huge swath of Southern California forest on Tuesday to try to contain a 190-square-mile wildfire that has destroyed 53 homes and threatened thousands more in foothill suburbs.

The commander of the vast firefighting operation expressed a positive outlook for the first time in the week since the blaze erupted in the Angeles National Forest north of Los Angeles and grew into a giant.

“I’m feeling a lot more optimistic today than I did yesterday and the crews are doing fabulous work out there on the grounds but the bottom line is that they’re fighting for every foot,” said Mike Dietrich of the U.S. Forest Service.

Lets hope they put a stop to this before it reaches the communication towers.

Tagged with: angeles national forest • califronia • firefighters • Los Angeles • southern califronia • US • wild fires

Lindsay Lohan’s House Burglarized Again for the Third Time

On August 23, 2009, in Celebrity, by admin

This just in from TMZ: Police were called for the second time in three months to the Hollywood Hills home of actress Lindsay Lohan on Sunday to investigate a reported burglary there, a police spokesman said.

The latest call came in at about 6:30 a.m. local time, but the spokesman at the Los Angeles Police Department’s Hollywood station said he had no further details, including who made the call or whether Lohan was home at the time.

The celebrity news website TMZ.com reported that the actress discovered the break-in after coming home at about 3 a.m. and called her father, Michael Lohan, who called police.

He told TMZ that a safe was ripped off a wall in the home and that a couple of watches were taken, and that he believes the theft was “an inside job” because employees for his daughter had failed to turn on the house burglar alarm.

TMZ also cited an unnamed source as saying that three men can be seen in a surveillance video breaking into Lohan’s home.

A previous burglary attempt was reported there in May, police said. According to TMZ the suspects in that incident apparently were frightened off by the alarm, but not before intruders were captured on videotape trying to gain entry.

A number of media reports at the time quoted police as saying officers initially thought the house had been ransacked but determined that the place was just messy.

The 23-year-old actress, who became known as much for her nightclub antics as for her screen talent, has sought lately to rebuild her career following a string of high-profile personal problems that included a 2007 conviction for drunken driving and cocaine possession.

Last month, she starred in a ABC Family television movie and launched a new TV and film production company with her fashion-line partner

Tagged with: ABC • Hollywood • Lindsay Lohan • Los Angeles • MICHAEL LOHAN • TMZ

Diane Keaton Tries To Save A Historic Hotel in Los Angeles

On July 29, 2009, in Celebrity, Life/Culture, by admin

The greatest comedian of our time, Diane Keaton, is campaigning to save an old Los Angeles hotel from demolition.

The First Wives Club star told The New York Times one of the reasons she wants to save the 1960s built Century Plaza because it’s curved facade reminds of her of Italian cinema icon Sophia Loren.

Diane, 63, compared the hotel to “a sexy woman surrounded by ogling men – Sophia Loren in the 1960s”.

The Century Plaza was bought a year ago by developer Michael Rosenfeld, who has unveiled plans to demolish it and replace it with two gleaming towers designed by the prestigious New York firm Pei Cobb Freed and Partners.

Mr Rosenfeld insists that he has been encouraged by city authorities keen to regenerate West Hollywood’s Century City, where The Plaza is located, and needs to demolish the hotel to complete his greener, more pedestrian-friendly complex of offices, restaurants and residences.

But Diane said: “We need to honour our city’s history more than we need two new towers.”

Diane is a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and was also at the forefront of efforts to save the Ambassador Hotel, which was torn down three years ago and could claim historical importance as the place where Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in 1968.

On the day the Ambassador was blown-up by demolition crews in 2006, the actress stood before the wreckage and repreminanded a “confused public who could do nothing more than shrug their shoulders in apathy”.

Tagged with: Ambassador Hotel Bobby Kennedy • Century Plaza • Diane Keaton • First Wives Club • Los Angeles • National Trust for Historic Preservation • New York Times • Sophia Loren

Pet Airways Take Flight Today

On July 14, 2009, in Life/Culture, by admin

Today is the first flight for the husband-and-wife team’s Pet Airways, the first-ever all-pet airline, took off from Republic Airport in Farmingdale, N.Y.

All commercial airlines allow a limited number of small pets to fly in the cabin. Others must travel as checked bags or in the cargo hold—a dark and sometimes dangerous place where temperatures can vary wildly.

Binder and Wiesel used their consulting backgrounds and business savvy to start Pet Airways in 2005. The last four years have been spent designing their fleet of five planes according to new four-legged requirements, dealing with FAA regulations and setting up airport schedules.

The two say they’re overwhelmed with the response. Flights on Pet Airways are already booked up for the next two months.

Pet Airways will fly a pet between five major cities—New York, Washington, Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles. The $250 one-way fare is comparable to pet fees at the largest U.S. airlines.

For owners the big difference is service. Dogs and cats will fly in the main cabin of a Suburban Air Freight plane, retooled and lined with carriers in place of seats. Pets (about 50 on each flight) will be escorted to the plane by attendants that will check on the animals every 15 minutes during flight. The pets are also given pre-boarding walks and bathroom breaks. And at each of the five airports it serves, the company has created a “Pet Lounge” for future fliers to wait and sniff before flights.

The company will operate out of smaller, regional airports in the five launch cities, which will mean an extra trip for most owners dropping off their pets if they are flying too. Stops in cities along the way means the pets will take longer to reach a destination than their owners.

A trip from New York to Los Angeles, for example, will take about 24 hours. On that route, pets will stop in Chicago, have a bathroom break, play time, dinner, and bunk for the night before finishing the trip the next day.

Awesome.

Tagged with: Chicago • Denver • FAA • Farmingdale • Los Angeles • New York • NY • Pet Airways • Washington

Naked Man Caused Diversion on US Airs Flight

On July 2, 2009, in Life/Culture, by admin

A US Airways passenger who stripped naked on a flight from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Los Angeles caused a diversion in more than one way. The flight had to be diverted to Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Tuesday night. Another passenger took photos of the incident and sent them to Eyewitness News.

Keith Wright, 50, from the Bronx in New York was restrained by two off-duty law enforcement officers, who happened to be onboard.

A spokesperson for the Albuquerque airport said Wright was unresponsive when a flight attendant asked him to put his clothes back on. Wright also punched and kicked the attendant, who then asked for assistance from an L.A. police officer and sheriff’s deputy.

Flight attendants were dealing with an unrelated medical emergency aboard Flight 705 at the same time, so the aircraft was diverted for that reason. Wright’s actions were deemed secondary. The plane continued on to Los Angeles after the incident.

Wright was taken into custody by airport police, who called the FBI. Wright told the FBI he has been suffering from bipolar disorder and did not take medication prior to leaving New York that day.

Wright is in federal custody in Albuquerque and is expected.

How fun. Thanks ABC!

Tagged with: ABC • Albuquerque • Bronx • Charlotte • Eyewitness News • FBI • Keith Wright • LA • Los Angeles • New York • North Carolina • US • US Airways

Letterman & Palin Feud Still Not Ending. Urgh!

On June 17, 2009, in Celebrity, by admin

Yes, this is still going on. Gov. Sarah Palin accepted late-night TV host David Letterman’s apology over a sexually charged joke about her teenage daughter, but it was not enough to stop a protest outside the comedian’s studio on Tuesday. Enough is enough. It’s a freakin joke.

“Of course it’s accepted on behalf of young women, like my daughters, who hope men who ‘joke’ about public displays of sexual exploitation of girls will soon evolve,” Palin said in a statement late on Monday night. “Letterman certainly has the right to ‘joke’ about whatever he wants to, and thankfully we have the right to express our reaction,” she said.

On the occasion of a Palin trip to New York, Letterman joked on June 8 that New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez had “knocked up” Palin’s daughter during a family trip to a baseball game. The comedian apologized for the joke on his show broadcast on Monday night.

Letterman has said the joke’s intended target was Palin’s daughter Bristol, an 18-year-old unwed mother, but Palin and others have said it was aimed at her younger daughter, 14-year-old Willow, who was at the baseball game in New York.

In his apology, Letterman said the joke was “beyond flawed” and apologized to Palin and both her daughters.

Still, more than a dozen protesters held up banners outside Letterman’s Times Square studio as Tuesday’s show was being taped, but they were outnumbered by spectators and media.

Several said they found Letterman’s comments degrading to women. Protest organizer and Los Angeles radio host John Ziegler of firedavidletterman.com said Letterman’s apology was not enough and Letterman should donate his salary from last week to a charity of Palin’s choice.

But some spectators said Palin and the protesters had lost their sense of humor. “He made a joke, what is America coming to?” said spectator Bailey Wallace, 17.

Palin last year was the vice presidential nominee on the Republican ticket, running alongside Arizona Sen. John McCain

Tagged with: Alex Rodriguez • Brstol • David Letterman • John Ziehler • June • Los Angeles • New York • New York Yankees • Palin • Sarah Palin

Reunion of Sorts. Gabrielle Carteris & Jason Priestley of 90210

On June 16, 2009, in Celebrity, by admin

Since, for some reason they are not bringing back Andrea Zuckerman and Brandon Walsh on the new 90210 why not have them together in real life. Atleast in the form of helping actors.

The Los Angeles Local of the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists in a vote that also saw Membership First candidates Anne-Marie Johnson, David Jolliffe and Alan Ruck winning seats after campaigning on a platform opposing merger with SAG.

Morgan will begin his new two-year term July 1; he ran unopposed.

Also uncontested in their reelection for two-year terms were first VP Susan Boyd Joyce, a singer; actor Gabrielle Carteris, second veep; third veepee Bobbie Bates, a dancer; fourth VP Jason George, an actor; recording secretary Patrika Darbo, an actor; and thesp Jay Gerber continues as treasurer.

Reelected to three-year terms on the Local board of directors were actors David Bowe, Raza Burgee, Andrew Caple-Shaw, Carteris, Bob Joles, Kate Linder and Paul Napier; announcer Mike Sakellarides; dancer Galen Hooks; broadcaster Pepe Barreto; and singers Joyce and Dick Wells.

Incoming Los Angeles Local board members include actors David Andriole, Mimi Cozzens, Jolliffe, Marcia Strassman; and announcer Chuck Southcott.

Morgan was also elected to the AFTRA national board of directors for a four-year term; he also serves as a national VP of the union. In addition to him, national board members from the Los Angeles Local reelected to four-year terms include actors Carteris, Jay Gerber and Paul Petersen; Bates; and singers Joyce and Sally Stevens. Newly-elected to the AFTRA national board are actors D. W. Moffett, Jason Priestley, Johnson and Ruck.

Thanks Variety for the update!

Tagged with: AFTRA • Alan Ruck • Andrea Zuckerman • Andrew Caple-Shaw • Ann Marie Johnson • Bob Joles • Bobbie Bates • Brandon Walsh • Chuck Southcott • David Andriole • David Bowe • David Jolliffe • Dick Wells • Gabrielle Carteris • Galen Hooks • Jason George • Jason Priestly • Jay Gerber • Kate Linder • Los Angeles • Marcia Strassmen • Mike Sakellarides • Mimi Cozzens • Patrika Darbo • Paul Napier • Pepe Barreto • Raza Burgee • SAG • Susan Boyd Joyce • Television • Variety

Shanghai Let’s the Gays Come Out in 1st Pride Festival

On June 13, 2009, in Life/Culture, by admin

Gay pride is happening in Los Angeles this weekend and on the other part of the world it’s happening as well. Hundreds of gay men and women, some with rainbow flags painted on their faces, turned out for Shanghai’s first gay pride festival Saturday to celebrate with cocktails, drag shows and a hot body contest.

Yet, there was no parade the crowd was scaled down in comparison to similar events in Sydney or San Francisco but some people detect a more international, open-minded attitude in China’s financial capital as it prepares to host next year’s World Expo and aspires to become a global financial center.

“I don’t think China is very conservative now. Shanghai is developing very fast and it’s becoming more and more international,” said Amy Lin, a 17-year-old from Taiwan who joined Saturday’s festivities.

The crowd was heavy on expatriates and English speakers, rather than typical Shanghainese. The pride day events also included traditional Chinese dance performances by drag artists flashing fans and feathers. A few events earlier in the week, including a film screening and a play, were abruptly canceled due to a lack of proper licenses.

“We’ve organized events in the past, social events for the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community, wine tastings, book club, pub crawls, drag shows. But this is the first time that we’ve done it all in one week and call it a gay pride festival,” said Hannah Miller, a co-organiser.

The event received some favorable advance publicity in China’s official English-language press.

Good job China.

Tagged with: China • English • Gay • Gay Pride • Hanna Miller • LGBT • Los Angeles • Rainbow flags • San Francisco • Shanghai's • Sydney • Taiwan • World Expo

Utah Great Pro Footballer Merlin Olsen Dies of Cancer at 69

California Judicial Commission Admonished Judge For Making Attorney Pay in Coupons

Tila Tequila’s Odd Farewell to late Heiress Casey Johnson

Thanks Daily News

Gays Have Arrived! Appearing on the “Newlywed Game Show”

Some Positive Gain in the California Wild Fires?

Lindsay Lohan’s House Burglarized Again for the Third Time

Diane Keaton Tries To Save A Historic Hotel in Los Angeles

Pet Airways Take Flight Today

Naked Man Caused Diversion on US Airs Flight

Letterman & Palin Feud Still Not Ending. Urgh!

Reunion of Sorts. Gabrielle Carteris & Jason Priestley of 90210

Shanghai Let’s the Gays Come Out in 1st Pride Festival

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